JESUS LEFT AND WAS GOING AWAY FROM THE TEMPLE. Immediately after his "impeachment" of the Jewish leaders (_chapter 23)._ Scholars do not agree on the meaning of _Matthew 24._ My understanding of this chapter is built on some years of study and comparing Scripture with Scripture; and reading what oth... [ Continue Reading ]
I TELL you THIS. Other great temples stand in ruins, still showing their splendor. The Jewish temple would vanish completely from the face of the earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
As JESUS SAT. He and his disciples were sitting on the Mount of Olives, looking back at the temple, as the rays of the sunset shone on it. TELL US WHEN ALL THIS WILL BE. They expect it all to take place at one time. But notice there are really three questions asked: (1) When will the temple be destr... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT LET ANYONE FOOL YOU. By pretending to be the Messiah. Since they still expected Jesus to set up a political kingdom in Jerusalem during their lifetime, they needed this warning. Josephus, the Jewish historian, details many who did claim to be the Messiah during the years before 70 A.D.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR THE NOISE OF BATTLES. All the world seemed to be at war during this time. Tacitus, the Roman historian, says: "It was full of calamities, horrible with battles, rent with seditions, savage in peace itself." At least five major earthquakes took place; along with epidemics of dis... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE THE FIRST PAINS OF CHILDBIRTH. The birth and growth of the Kingdom/church would be during the death-agony of the Jewish Age. Compare _Revelation 6._ ALL MANKIND WILL HATE YOU BECAUSE OF ME. The Devil used everyone and everything he could to attempt to destroy the work of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY WILL GIVE UP THEIR FAITH. Rather than to pay the price of suffering. Notice the opportunity that comes to those who are willing (Mark 13:9).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN MANY FALSE PROPHETS. See Galatians 1:7-8, It happened just as Jesus said it would.... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY PEOPLE'S LOVE WILL GROW COLD. Sin eats the heart out of religion. Love grown cold is a serious matter (Revelation 2:1-7).... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHOEVER HOLDS OUT. The Christian Jews who did not give up their faith, saw the signs and escaped to Pella in Perea across the Jordan, and saved their lives. This is symbolic of all who escape God's wrath through Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL BE PREACHED THROUGH ALL THE WORLD. PAUL SAID IT WAS! See Colossians 1:23. AND THEN WILL COME THE END. Not the end of the world, but the end of the Jewish Age. It was to be in the lifetime of those people (Matthew 24:34).... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU WILL SEE THE AWFUL HORROR.' Luke says: _"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies._ (Luke 21:20). This identifies The Awful Horror' as the Roman army. Cestius Gallus, first in 66 A.D.; Vespasiam, 68 A.D.; lastly under Titus, 70 A.D. The first time is understood to be what the sign meant. STAN... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE TROUBLE AT THAT TIME. Since the punishment of all the Ages was to fall on these people (Matthew 23:35-36), it would be something the world had never seen before. It was far more terrible than the Flood, because these people killed each other! While the Roman armies surrounded the city, the J... [ Continue Reading ]
REDUCED THE NUMBER OF DAYS. That is, The Days of Punishment' (Luke 21:20). God in his mercy did not destroy all the people of Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN IF ANYONE SAYS TO YOU. This refers to the time of the siege of Jerusalem. Even while it was happening, false Messiahs and false prophets told lies to the people in the city. [This is also symbolic of the time from Pentecost until the Second Coming of Christ.]... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL COME LIKE THE LIGHTNING. No one will have any doubts when Christ returns! _"Everyone will see him, including those who pierced him"_ (Revelation 1:7).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREVER THERE IS A DEAD BODY. The vultures will gather at Jerusalem where the dead body is lying. Symbolic of the Roman armies gathering to destroy the body that is already dead (the Jewish Nation of that time). [Some also think it to be symbolic of the end of the world.]... [ Continue Reading ]
SOON AFTER THE TROUBLE OF THOSE DAYS This difficult passage must be understood according to Matthew 24:34 which puts it at the time of the siege. Then it must speak of a "spiritual coming" of Jesus, rather than the Second Coming. This can be tied in with what Peter says about judgment beginning with... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE FIG TREE TEACH YOU A LESSON. When the fig tree sprouts leaves, it is a sign of summer coming. WHEN YOU SEE ALL THESE THINGS. The things Jesus had predicted. _But Jesus seems to say that no signs will show the end of the world near see_ Matthew 24:44.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THE PEOPLE NOW LIVING HAVE ALL DIED. In the actual lifetime of people who were then living when Jesus spoke these words. Compare Matthew 16:28. [Some think this means the Jewish people will still be living as an ethnic group when Jesus returns and the world ends.]... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL PASS AWAY. Even though Creation will vanish, everything Christ says will still remain true.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO ONE KNOWS, HOWEVER. Anyone who sets a date for Christ to come, cannot be telling the truth! Even the Son does not know when this will be. [The time factor here is the End of the World.]... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN. The Second Coming and the end of the world.... [ Continue Reading ]
JUST AS IN THE DAYS. The Flood came as a surprise! [It had probably never rained before (Genesis 2:6).] Just so, no one will be expecting Jesus when he comes (Matthew 24:43). Life will be going on as usual.... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO MEN WILL BE WORKING. It will be a time when good and bad are separated. See the Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30).... [ Continue Reading ]
WATCH OUT, THEN. Be prepared! If the Lord should come tonight [or if you should die] be ready to meet him!... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE MAN OF THE HOUSE KNEW. The thief does not call you up and tell you when he is coming. [Some think this means there will be _no signs at all_ to show the Second coming is near.] The idea of coming "like a thief in the night" is also mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10; Revelation 3:3; Revelati... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO, THEN, IS THE FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT? This parable is also found in Luke [it may have been told many times by Jesus]. See also 2 Peter 3:1-9, The central idea of this parable is that God's people should not try to "boss" each other, thinking that Jesus has delayed so long that he will not com... [ Continue Reading ]